Double-track extensible dredger



C. H. RUTH DOUBLE TRACK EXTENSIBLE DREDGER March 23 1926.

' Filed July 18,

March 23 192e. h1,577,761

C. H. RUTH DOUBLE TRACK EXTENSIBLE DREDGER N) SQ N w mvENToR CHARLES /SC furff www AMarch Z3 1926.

1,577,761 c. H. RUTH DOUBLE TRACK EXTENSIBLE DREDGER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 18 1925 t L/ INVENTOR.

- (D GMQRLEs/ R077/ BY mmm/1 www l ATTORNEY Marchs 1926. n,577,761

C. H. RUTH DOUBLE TRACK EXTENSIBIVE DREDGER Fileduuly 18, 192s e sheets-sheet 5 1 7 A T Y'ORNE Y March 23 1926. v 1,577,761

C. H. RUTH DOUBLE TRACK EXTENSIBLE DREDGER Filed July 1s, 192s s sheets-sheet e IN VE NTO R @nfs- RUTH ParenrediMar." 1926. i l i .1,577,761

L Jlvilf'rrzusrA'rus/A PATENT OFFICE. cHAnLnsAH. nomino-" HUNTINGTQ Panic, cALIFoRIvIA, .A

Douste-raam: EXTENSIBLE DREDGER. applicati@ inea 'July 18,1'923. serial No. esazsox T afZZwzomz't may coacem: United States are of vast extent and comlSe v1t known that I, CHARLES H.- RUTH, a prise main .canals of considerable width', citizen of) thel United States, residing at depth and length which supply lesser chan- Huntington `Park, in the countyfof Los/An nels of decreasing width; and from these` 55 5 geles and ,Statet'of California, haveinvented lesser channels vdistributing arteries of still' a new and useful Double-Track Extensible less width are formed that discharge into.` a Dredger, of which th'efollowing is a speci- J'vast nunber of lstill 'smaller irrigating ication. f i ditcheso'f various Width, depth and length;

' This invention relates to apparatus for anrhga-tes and checks are interposed between 60 forming and cleaning canals, irrigating the manfcanal,andhannels as well as beditches and other channels; and it comprises tween all the other water ,diverting or checkimprovements of the excavating machine set ing :points throughout the system; and nuiorth in United States Letters Patent No. mer-ous `low bridges for travel and transpor- 1,287,760, granted/to me December 17, '1918. tation cross the numerous water ways. 6d l An object of this linvent-ion is to improve An object of this invention is to] provide the means for supporting and transporting a dredger that can be eas-ily andspeedily adi the dredger `and to that end I provide a main justed to any ofthe various' widths and tractor comprising a pair of self laying depths of the" water waysfand nwhich'can track tractors of wide tread and length and also pass over the gates, checks and bridges 7l' 0 arranged side by side and adapted to supwithout deviating Vfrom its course along a port andv carry a major portion of the canal or'cha'nnel. That is to say, an object dredger frame and excavating apparatus is'fto provide a dredger that will work up thereon; and adjustably connected to the directly t o the gates, checksand bridges and frame, and parallel with the main tractor is, that will pass over them" freely, .and be 7"" atlank caterpillar tractor of 'wide tread and ready for immediate operation beyond-5 and y' l length sup-porting the lighter portion of the the invention .is broadly new, basic and pio frame; and I provide means whereby these neer in the construction and arrangement of tractors may be operated either independthe tractors whereby the necessarily heavy ently or in timed relation to each other; and' dredger can be safely 'transported and oper- 80 said tractors are so constructed that they ated over soft, uneven and obstructed ground will travel over very soft yielding ground 'and whereby it can befquicklyljand easily ad without sinking to a stalling depth; and they justed to channels uof various widths and v are also constructed so that they can transdepths and in its adaptability of clearly port the heavy dredge over uneven ground passing ove'r gates, checks and low bridges; 85

or through territory covered by heavy weeds and in this respect the dredger includes `a f and underbrush common to ditches and main tractor, a tiank tractor and dredging small streams. mechanism adapted to be carried thereby In other words the tractors are formed and operated therebetween. y and arranged so that they will crush down AAn object of the invention is to provide 90 the heavy .weeds and underbrush growth -an easy and efficient means for adjusting the along ditches that need re-drcdging to deepen flank tractortoward or from the main tracand clean them of obstructions that retard tor, and to effect such adjustment mainly by the flow of water. engine power. That is, the dredger engine.

It is necessary to frequently redredge iris utilized toforce the flank tractor toward 95 rigating ditches on account of silt deposits, or from the main tractor and anidler and washing down of the banks, refilling in by ,manual means may be employed to support f wind shifted soil and sand and byl rank and the flank tractor; and such idler 1s adapted rapid growth of grass, Weeds and underto travel transve`rsely to the tractors.

brush that clog the channels and prevents An object of the mventlon 1s to provlde 100 free flow of water. Irrigating systems, now a dredger thatv will move forward while v being established in western portions 4of the digging and ywhich in moving is easily vdrect/ed in a predetermined course by concontracted as shown'lin/solid lines in Figs tr'ol of the tractors; and by this control 1 and 3, viewed from the circle 4 varrows in I lthe dredger can be turned to any degree or vFigs. 1 and 3, and spanning a narrow canal,

squarely around'for operation in any directhe margins of which are shown. tion. a Fig. 5 -is a broken/enlarged fragmental A feature of the invention is shown in the elevation of the machine with the flank tracv construction, control,A and operation of the tor in extended position showing the exdredger appliance; and comprises means cavajzor in diggmg position; parts are for lowering thedredger buckets to a great .omitted to avoid confusion and obscuration depth or elevating them to clear gates, checks and bridges.. M

Another feature of the invention is shown in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts 'comprising the telescoping means interposed between the main and the flank tractors. f, l A feature of the invention is shown i1\ the pivotal connection of the filank tractor to the frame; by such connection the flank tractor is adapted to adjust itself to uneven surfaces that are out of parallelism with the surfaces over which the mainitractorl 1s traveling. T hat is to say, when the 'dredger is moving over uneven ground, the fla/nk.

tractor can adjust'itself to move over a de.

clining surface whilethemain tractor 1s. in oving onda ,surface inclined upwardly and. vice versa; and the adaptability to s'uizh ,'1no\zement -isfn provided for bypivoting the flank tractor on a -drive shaft.

A feature lof the invention is shownvin thev novel means foratightening the drive chain of the ilank'tractor.

VA feature of the rinvention is shown in the 'means for operatinga cablevdrum for aiding to transport or stabilize the dredgen' :Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompany'- ing drawing, the subjoined detail descrip- The accompanying drawings illustrate the inventions s l /Z In some of the views circle arrows having numerals in the circles, respectively indi-.

cate the direction of sight upon such view from )which the figure "indicated by the numeral wasrtaken'.-

Figure 1 is a fragmental plan of a dredger constructed in accordance with this invention; parts aref omitted to expose features desired to be slown in the view. .The "excavator is -shown ,raised out of commission and the tread is contracted. y 4Fig. 2 is an elevation of the dredger 'viewed from the right of the solid 'lines in Figs. 1 and 3. l

Fig; 3 is a fragmental plan view of the dredger, reduced to its most contracted form. Parts are omitted to avoid confusion and to 'expose parts. that would otherwise be hidden. Dot and dash lines indicate a more extended adjustment of the lankjtractor, and fragments of the elevator and its support are shown.

rig. 4a@ sa elevare@ @f sa @acida` ing the flank tractor toward and from-they main tractor. L

Fig. 7 'is an enlarged fragmental elevation of the flank tractor lookingl at the right end of Figs.l 1 land 3 in the direction of the circle 7 arrow in keach of said figures.

Fig. 8 is. a fravmental section on line sfFigs., 3 and-9, slowing driving clutches `oneclut'ch showing the, in, and the otherI clutch'showing the ont position. C ,F ig. 9 is a sectional elevation on Figs. 3`and( 8.'

Fig. 1()E is a sectional fragmental elevation onl line w1", Fig. 3

Fig. 11 is a sectional fragmenta'l elevation on line ,Fig. 3.

Fig. 12'is an en arged sectional detail on .line :1:12, Fig'. 3.A

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmental section ^on lline m13, Fig. 3, showing parts associated therewith in section and side elevation.

' Fig. 14 is' a fragmental sectionon line :1:14, Fig. 3. v Fig. l5 is a section on line :1:15, Fig. 14..

Fig. \16 is a fragmental sectional detail line of the driving joints in the shaft for drivf` Fig. 18 is a fragmental plan View of the cable drum. y

Fig. 19 is a fragmental side View of the cablel drum clutch. v

Fig.` 20 is a fragmental view of the flank tractor chain tightener.

Fig. 21 is a sideview of the flank tractor chain v'tightenelx The main frame A is heavily weighted and is of a rightl angle triangle form havmg the mai-n, or base beam 1, the normal bean) 2, and the oblique beam 3 formed of metalllc I beams that are suitably connected by lates 4 which are secured thereto p referab y by welding or riveting; and parallel to and spaced apart from the normal beam 2 and suitably joined to the base beam land thc oblique beam 3, are the 1ntermediate normal beams 5,'6.

The mail track laying tractor 7 is arranged 4underneath the space between the `beams2v and 5 vand connected thereto, in parallelism therewith to support the major porties Of the trame and they-apparatus and c'four'pipes 11, 12, 13,

appliances connected thereto; andthe tractor 7 has tread chains'of great length and Width so that they will support an enormous' lto one another; and they are also preferably arranged so that they extend rearwardly. slightly beyond thefbase'beam 1 .and for.

wardly to the partfof the frame that is about thel width of the main tractor.

A flank tractor 8 is/provided for supporting a minor portion of the Weighted frame and is parallel with and similar in construction "to and arranged. whenso desired, to travel innor out of4 time withthe tractor 7.

The flank tractor 8 is connected td the main fram-e byv means of sets 9', 10 of loose telescoping `pipes that are arranged parallel with the base beam 1-; the set of pipes 9 being adjacent the basefbe'ani 1 and the second set l0 arranged near the middle of then/lain frame; and each set consists of aseries of 14,. there` thus being formed pairs/of pi`pes.`

The pipesof the pair of pipes 11 arefse cured tothegmain fraine by lmeans of clamps 1,5 `and beams 16; and slidably mounted in the` pair of pipes 11 is ,the pair? of pipes 12 which have their extended-ends yokedftogether by a crossstrap 17 that is secured in' placeby the clamps'18. y

Thel pipes of ,the pair of pipes 13 are Y slidably mounted in the pipes 12 and have their extended ends connected byI a' cross strap y19 that is secured in place by the clamps 20; and slidably mounted in pipes 13 are the pipes 14 that have their extended endss/ecured to the straps 21, 22 by clamps 23; and strap'22 is connected to, the auxiliary attacliable to either-of the lugs 33, 34 on a shift pipe 35. V

lVhe'nthe tractor 8 is to be moved away from the tractor7, the end 32 of cable 31 is attached to the lug33; and .then power is applied to the drum 29 to Wind up the cable which will causey the shift pipe 35 to slide onfthe rod 36 toward the tracto-r-8;.and the end of pipe 35 adjacent the lug 34` is pro# vided lwith 'a draw and push bar 37 that is adapted to hook over either of the cross straps 17, 19 and 22 to move `'the telescoping pipes connected therewith in the direction the shiftjp'ipe 35 is actuated.

v`To adjust the tractor 8 outward from the v.main tractor, the bar 37 will first be placed over the 'strap 22 to force the pair of pipes 14 outwardly a distance of about eightfeet; then the bar 37 ,and associated parts are Inovedbackto'engage the cross strap 19 to push .out the pipes 13 pand then. engage the strap 17 to a'ctuate pipes 12 outwardly, there,- b/y forcing (the, tractor 8 a required distance, say twenty-four feet or more away from a y.close up position -to the main frame; and

.when the tractor 8 is Yto be adjusted toward the main tractors, the parts are actuated in a reversed order. j

' To facilitate the adjustment of tractor 8 Vtoward or' away from the main tractor, 'an idle roller v38 is provided that is manually moved into place after the tractor 8 has been /elevated by a lifting jack for that purpose.

Roller '3 8is mountedon a bearing 39 that passes through the free, end of-a yoke 40;v

and this yoke is pivotally connectedto the -lstrap 21'bry angley irons 41 and a rod 42,

so that when not in ,use the yoke canl be turned back over the` tractor 8 into idle posi-i tion as shown inl Fig. 5; and when in useit is turned down into the full line position of a by a U-bolt 26, see Figs. 2. and 7.

' nary1 obstrnctionssuch as gates,

' diameters of the pipes 12, 13 and-14 are less ed a squared shaft 53.

On the shaft- 52 there 1s a gear :54 that is thev extend so that they can easily telescope. adapted' to' engage a sliding` pinion 0n a frame 24 on the frame .25v of"the tractor 8 Figs. 3, 4 and 7 after the tractor 8 hasbeen Auiliary frames 24, 27' are interposed secured' in position to support the tractor by between the tractors 7, Stand the main frame means of boltsl 40 that pass through an and pipe connection thereto so as to support angle iron 40 secured to the frame 25 ,as the main frame in anelevated position so best shown in Figs. 4 and 7. that the dredger can easily pass over ordi- Drum 29is actuated by the engine 28 checks and through the differential 43 that is provided low bridges. g with a clutch 44 and connected to a driven The purpose of the ltelescoping pipes is to shaft 45 having a pinion 45 that is adapted adjust the tractor 8 toward or from thev .to act'uate either member 46, 47 of gear main tractorsto a right position for' the clutch 48 on shaft 49. The gear faced memmain frame-to properly span a channel and ber 46 'has a sleevel 46 extending along to allow the elevator to operate therein; and shaft 49 on which. there is a sprocket 50 the adjustment is ."mainly accomplished'by connected by a chain to the sprocket 51 on engine power; and preferably the exterior a sleeve 52; 1n which there is slidably mountthan the diameter of the pipe into which The dre'dger is provided with an engine shaft 56 that has a Worm 57 engaging the `28 that is connected by trains of gears, Wheel lWorm 58 on the shaft 30 so when enf4 shafts and clutches 28 `with a drum 29 on gine power is applied to this shaft, gear and shaft,30,and to this drum isl connected one clutch connection theidrurn 29 will be roend of a cable 31 that has its other' end 32 ,tated to move the cable 31; and by means Aof elevated for that purpose. It is temporarily` lsquared shafts 53 with alternately shifting the end 32 `of the cable i 59 of the tractor 8 i b at mem er46 engages clutch 48 shifted so tl the pinion 45'; in. other words, the'dredger must be stationary while the adjustmentof tractor 8 is accomplished ff The squared sha-ft 53 is Uconnected toj the link connection 59 by aj'loose couplingy 60, as

best showny in "Figsf1'4`, 15; and the link Y `has its other end connected to the flank/drive shaft 61 of tractor 8 by loose coupling 62 as shown in Fig 16;l andthe link connection 59 comprises a number of shafts of various and suitable Alengths for mal 'ng connections between the shafts 53"and'6 when the tractor 8 is moved toward or from the main tractor 7. I

Shaft 61 is supported by the frame 24 and has attached thereto a sprocket 63 that has a driving connection with. a sprocket 4 64J onA shaft 65 by a chain 66; and the shaft 65 carries a drive tread sprocket 67 that'actuates,

the tread chain 68 that extends over.I the` idlers 69, 70, that are rotatably connectedv at opposite ends of the frame 25', see Figs. 3, 4

f and 5; so that whelrthe shaft 53 jis driven in ,either direction it willcorrespondingly actuate the tractor 8.

Shaft 49 adjacent the beams 2, 5 is pro-i vided with sprockets 71, 72 that are connected by 'chains 73, 74 with sprockets 75, 76

on the-shaft 77 that has arranged thereon the sprockets 78, 7.9 that drive the tread chains 80, 81 that pass over the idlers 82, see Figs. 1, 2, 14; and the drive of the flank tractor 8 is in time with 'the drive of the main tractor so thatVv they can be operated together to pro-` pel the dredger. However', it is understoody i that the tractors can be operated indepen-v dcntly', of' one another; that is, one can be kept idle while the other moves,- which will cause the dredge to move in the arc of a circle or turn around; and by this means the dredger is guided. f

The excavating appliance 83v is similar in construction and operation to the excavating.v conveyor shown an ldescribedin my prior Patent No. 1,287, 60, hereinbefore menof the appliance 83 now lowered fromV idle to working position and vice vversa. by ower,

VniPuIated byhand,

whereas heretofore f it Vwals principal y ma'- mounted on a shaft 86 with a maior portion of the excavator extending toward theend 84 that is moved up and ydown when neces- -`sary by a cable 87 thathas an end portion 54 which /connected to a yoke 88 and the other to a drum 89 on a shaft 90.

Cable 87 is supported in position to raise'- The excavator'83 has a fra1ne'85`pivotally overa pulley in the block 92 and then downward in an inclined direction and a guide pulley 94 on the main `frame, after which it passes todthe drum 89. ci lVhen the end=84 has ered to a desired position it is held in place "by a ,ratchet wheel 95 that is engaged by a dog 96'which is mounted on frame; and dog 96 is provided with afoot pedal 97 by which the ratchet wheel is released when power is to be-'applied to shaft 90 to move the end 84 of the excavator ineitlier direction.

W'hen shaft 90 is to be rotated the clutch 98 is moved into position to clutch a sprocket wheel 99 that is connected byachain 100 to a. is actuated by .engine 28. ,f

'A hand wrench' 102 is provided for raising and lowering the shaft 86 and associated parts; also means 103 are provided for shifting frame 1 sition.

The 'chainl gagementwith the wheels 63, 64" by the been raised or lowsprocket wheel 101 on the shaft 28. whichl l 66 is held in vsuitable drvingen- I curvedcontact 104 at the ends-of a cross bar 105 and this cross "bari is vsupportedl by' an arm 106 on a sleeve 107 that is supported by the that it can move to compensate tered positions of the flank tractor; see Figs. 20,21. .l

Means additional .to the'trafctors`l are provided for propelling 'the dredger, and comprise'a drum 108 mounted on the frame and provided with a cable 109, thetfree' end of which can be attached to undead man, not

shaft 61. The cross bar is arranged so\ J for the alshowin, either in the rearor inadvance ofthe dredger; and the drum is driven by the engine28 so th'atasl the cable is wound on the drum the dredger is propelled. in one direction or the other vas the case may be.

The drum 1,08 is secured to' a shaf V110- on which there is loosely, mounted an idle 4bevel lgear 111 and this gear. carries one member of la clutch 112, the' other member ofl which is feathered to the moved into and out of e agement with the member of gear-l 1 11'by a ever113,see Figs. 18.119'

shaft 110` and The gear 111 mesheswith a gear 114 on i the shaft 115; and on the other end of shaft 115 is a sprocket 116 connected by'a chain 117 to a sprocket 118 on the shaft 45 that is in driving connection with theeengine 28;

and this connection has heretofore been described.

The operation of the various co-acting parts has been described in the detailed description and for the sake .of brevity will not be repeated; except to state that the drum 108 can be employed to propel the' dredger either when the tractors are active or inactive.

I claim: l j

1. A dredger comprising a frame; ainain track laying tractor supporting a major .part of said frame; a flank track layingtractor for supporting a minor part of 'said frame; means for adjusting said flank tractor toward or from said main tractor; excavating appliance on said frame; and -mean's for actuating said tractors to transport said frame and operate said excavating appliance.

2. A dredger comprising a mainframe; a main tractor; a flank tractor; auxiliary frames interposed between said tractors; and said main frame; means for'adjusting said flank tractor toward or` from said main tractor; excavating appliance on said main frame; and means for actuating said trac- -tors to transport said main frame and operate said excavating appliance.

3. A dredger comprising a frame; a main track "laying tractor 'supporting a major --portion of said frame and comprising two parallel units of the same length and width of tread and arranged sideby side; a shaftdrivi'ng bothV units; a flank track laying tractor offset from and arranged parallelto the main tractor and adapted to support a minor part of said frame; means for'driving said tractors together in timed relation with, or independently qfone another; and

an excavating appliance operably connected tosaid frame. j

4.' A dredger comprising a frame; a main track laying tractor supporting a major part of said'frame said tractor comprising two parallel units of the same length and.

' track laying ,tractor supporting a major part of said frame; a flank track'laying tractor supporting a minor part ofsaid frame said tractors arranged parallel to one another; a pipe fixed to said frame; a re-L ciprocating pipe slidably mounted in said fixed pipe said reciprocating pipe connected yto said flank tractor; means for moving said v1.0

reciprocating pipe to move said flank tractor toward or 'from said main tractor; excavating appliance connected to said frame; and means for actuating said tractors to transportsaid frame and operate said excavating appliance.

6. A dredger comprising a frame; a main tractor supporting a majorv part of said frame; a flank tractor supporting a minor part of said frame said tractofrs'arranged 80 parallel to one another ;`a pipe fixed to said frame; a reciprocating pipe 'slidably mounted in said fixed pipe said reciprocating pipe connected to said flank tractor; a draw and push bar for engaging said reciprocating S5 pipe; excavating appliance connected to said frame; and an engine for actuating said draw and push bar to adjustJJ said flank tractor toward or from said iiiain tractor said engine adapted to drive said tractors and operate said excavating appliances. c

7. Adredger comprising a frame; a niain tractor s porting a major Nlpart of said frame; a

to travel in parallel courses; parallel pipes fixed to said frame; reciprocating pipes slidably mounted in said fixed pipes said reciprocating pipes having ends extending outward beyond tlie'ends of the fixed pipes; .10"

a strap connecting the extending ends of saidv reciprocating pipes; a connection between the extended ends of said reciprocating pipe-s and said Hank tractor; means for ,moving said reciprocating pipes to adjust said flank tractor toward or from said main frame; excavatingappliance supported by l said frame; and means for actuating said tractors to transport said frame and operate said excavating appliance.

8. A dredger comprising a frame; a main tractor supporting a' niajor part of 'said frame; a flank tractor supporting a minor part of said frame saidtractors arranged to,

travel in parallell courses; a pair ofparallel -1l5 pipes-fixed to said frame; intermediate pairs of pipes telescoping and slidably mounted inl said fixed pipes; strap connection between eaclipair of pipes; another pair of pipes with adjacent ends fixed to saidpflank tractor; a.4 draw and push bar for successively engaging the connections of the intermediate pairs of pipes and the pipes fixed to. the flank tractor; power Vmea-ns for actuating said draw and push bar to move said pipes to adjust said flank-tractor toward or from said main tractor when said bar is engaged with' the connections of said pipes; an idler for supportingsaid flank tractor while being adjusted; and excavating `appliance on said k tractor supporting a minor part of said frame said tractors'arranged 95 i on said frame; and means frame said tractor and appliance adapted means for adjusting said flank tractor toward or from said mam tractor; a framesupported by said tractors; .excavating appliance on said frame; and means for actuating said tractors to transport said frame and ,to operate said excavating appliance.`

10. A dredger comprising a main tractor; a flank tractor arranged to travel in a course parallel tothe course of said main tractor; means for adjusting saidflank tractor toward or from said' main tractor; a main frame; auxiliary frames interposed between said main frame `and said tractors for holding said main frame in an"y elevated position 'so that Vit can pass over checks, gates and low bridges of irrigation channels; excavating appliance on said main frame; means for raising or loweringA said appliance; and means for, actuating said tractors to transport said frames and to operate said' appliance.

11. A'dredger comprising a main tracto-r said tractor comprising a pair of track laying units having wide and extended tread chains; a flank tractor comprising a slngle track layino' unit having a wide and extended tread c ain, said tractors arranged to travel in parallel courses; a frame supported by said tractors; excavating appllance for actuating said tractors to transport saidV frame and operate said appliance.

12. A dredger comprising a main tractor said tractor comprising a pair of tra-ck laying units having wide and extended tread chains; a flank tractor comprising a single tracklaying unit having a wide and extended tread chain; said tractors arranged to travel at the same speed; means for adjust- -ing said flank tractor toward or from said main'tractor; a frame supportedl by said tractors; .excavating appliance carried by said fram-e; and means for actuating said tractors to -transport said frame and to opcrate said appliance.

13. A dredger comprising a main tractor; a flank tractor; a main frame; auxiliary frames interposed between said tractors and said main frame for holding said main frame in an elevated position lso that the dredger can pass over checks, gates and bridges of an .irrigating channel without changing its course of travel; 'excavating appliance. pivotally mounted on said frame; and power means for moving said excavator on its pivot said power means adapted tol actuate said tractorv and excavating appliance.

14. A dredger comprisingfa main tractor; a flank tractor; a mainframe; auxiliary said excavator on its pivot said power means adapted to actuate said tractor and excavating apphance.

15. A dredger comprising a main tractor;

a flank tractor; a main frame; auxiliary frames interposed between said tractors and i said mainframe for holding said main frame in an elevated position so that the dredger can pass over checks, gates and bridges o-f an irrigating channel without changing its course of travel; excavating appliance pivotally mounted on'sa'id frame; a hand wrench for shifting said appliance across the rear end of said frame; a hand'wrench for raising and lowering the'excavating appliance; means for raising and lowering the pivot of said appliance; and power mea-ns for moving said appliance on its pivot; said power means adapted to actuate said tractor and operate said appliance.

16. A dredger comprisin a main tractor; a frame supported by sai tractor; an engine on said frame; a flank shaft having a driving connection ltp said engine; a flank tractor pivotally mounted on and driven by said shaft; dredging appliance carried by said frame; and an operative connection between said engine and appliance.

17'. A dredger comprising a main tractor;

lim

a main frame supportedfby said tractor; an

engine -on said main frame for driving said tractor; a flank shaft having a driving connection to said engine; a flank tractor having a frame pivotally connected to said flank shaft; a driving connection between said shaft and flank tractor; dredging appliance carried by said main frame; and an operating connection between said engine and appliance.

18. A-dredger comprising a main tractor, said tractor comprising a pairof parallel track laying units; a main frame on said tractor; an engine on said frame; a driving connection between said tractor and engine; a flank shaft: lravlingya driving connection to saidengine; a flank tractor; a frame on. said Hank tractor` that is pivotally connected to said flankr shaft; a chain drive from said flank shaft to said flank tractor; dredging' appliance carried by said main frame; and an operating connection between said engine Aand appliance.

19. A dredger comprising a main tractor,

4said tractor comprising a pair of parallel on said track laying units; a mainframe drivingv tractor; an engine on said frame; a

connection between said-tractor and engine; a'flank shaft having a driving connection to said engine; a flank tractor; a frame onr said flank tractor that is pivotallyY connected to said shaft; a chain drive from said flank shaft to said flank tractor; means for adjusting said flank tractor toward or a 'ay from said main tractor; dredging appliance carried by said main frame; and an operating connection between said engine and appliance.

a 20. A dredger tor, said tractorcoinprising a pair of parallel track laying units arranged side by side; a main frame on said tractor; an engine on said frame; a driving connect-ion b'etween said engine and tractor; a flank shaft having a driving connection to said engine; a flank'tractor, said tractor comprising a single track laying unit offset from and farranged parallel to said main tracto-r; a' frame on said flank tractor that is pivotally connected to said flank shaft; a chain drive from said flank shaft to said flank shaft tractor;

ward or from said main tractor; excavating appliance carried by said main frame; and an operating connection between said engine and appliance.

21. A dredger comprising a in-ain tractor, said tractor comprising a pair of parallel track laying units 'arranged side by side; a main frame onsaid tractor; an engine on said frame; a'driving connection between said engine and tractor; a flank shaft having a driving connection to said engine; a' flank tractor, said -tractor comprising a single track laying unit offset from and arranged parallel to said main tractor; a frame on said flank tractorthat is pivotally connected to said flank shaft; a chain drive from said.

flank shaft and said flank tractor; means for vadjusting said flank tractor toward `or from said main tractor said means comprising a roller that 1s normally idle that is movable vinto position to supportssaid flank tracto-r and arranged to move transverselyy to said tractors; 'excavating appliance carried by said main frame; and an operating connection between said engine and appliance.

'22. The dredger set forth comprisinga main track laying tracto-r; a. flank track laying tractor; pipes interposed between and connecting said tractor; and a dredging appliance carried by said tractors.

23. The dredger set forth comprising a frame; a main tractor ,supporting a major `part of said frame; a large pipe secured to said frame; smaller pipes loosely'telescoping into said large pipe; a flank tractor connected to the extended end ofthe smallest of said smaller pipes, said pipes arranged so that said flank tractor supports a minor part of said frame and so it can be adjusted toward or away from said main tractor; and

comprising a main trac-` a dredging appliance mounted on said frame that is ,carried by said tractors.

24:. The dredger set forth comprising a frame; an engine on -jsaid frame; a main tractor supporting a inajor part of said frame; a large pipe secured to said frame;

smaller pipes loosely telescoping in to said large pipe; a flank tractor loosely connected to an extended end ofthe smallest of said smaller pipes, said pipes arranged so that said flank tractor supports a minor part of said frame and so it can be adjusted toward or from said main tractor; a dredging appliance carried by said frame; a driving connection between said engine and tractors; and adriving connection betweensaid engine and dredging appliance.

25. The dredger set forth comprising a frame; a main tractor supporting a major part of said frame; .a pair of'large-pipes secured to said frame; pairs of smaller pipes loosely telescoping into said pair of larger pipes; a flank tractor connected to the eX- .tended ends ofthe smallest ofv said pairs of means for adjusting said flanktractor to` pipes, said pairs of pipes arranged so that said flank tractor supports a minor part of said frame and so it can be adjusted toward or away from said main tractor; and aspo tractor supporting a' niajor part of said frame; a' pair of large pipes secured to said frame; pairs of smaller pipes loosely telescoping into said pair of larger pipes; flank tractor secured to the extended 'ends of the smallest of said pairs of pipes, .said

pipes arranged so that said flank tractor can e adjusted toward or from said main tractor; means connected with saidengine for adjusting said flank tractor; and a dredgingI a flank caterpillar tractor secured to ltheextended ends of the smallest of gaid pairs of pipes, said pipes arranged so that said flank tractor-can be adjusted toward or from said main tractor; means connected with said engine for adjusting said flank tractor; an

'idler for elevating and supporting said flank tractor while it is being adjusted toward or from said lmain tractor; ,a dredging appliance on vsaid frame that is carried by said tractors; and driving connections between said ,engine .and tractors and between said engine and dredging appliance.

28. The dredger setforthcomprising a frame; an engine on said frame; tractors supporting said frame; adredgng 'appliance on sa-ld frame that 1s actuated by salti eng1ne;`a drum secured to' sald frame; a cable having one end secured to said drum and' adapted to have its other end detaohably connected to a statmnary object such as an anchorage o1' dead man sov that when said drum is actuated to wind up said cable. said object; a driving connection between said l0 vengine and drum; ,and a clutch interposed in said drivng connection.

In testimony Where-of, I have hereuntov Set .my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 11th day of July, 1923.

CHARLES-H. RUTH. 

